Search

Premium Membership ♕

Limited Time Offer: Save 10% on Pro Plan with coupon: 110VDC. Study specialized LV/MV/HV technical articles & studies.

Home / Technical Articles / How to design the power supply for data centres and airports while megawatts of loads rise fast

Traditional LV vs MV Distribution

The first choice for service and distribution voltage is almost always 480 volts. Why is that? Well, it’s because it’s traditional, it has a safe design and specifications are already written around 480 V. UPS and backup aggregate equipment are readily available at 480 V. It seems that everything fits. But it’s not. Let’s take a closer look at why this does not work well for all facilities.

How to design the power supply in data centers and airports while megawatts of loads rise fast
How to design the power supply in data centers and airports while megawatts of loads rise fast (on photo: Integrated diesel rotary UPS (DRUPS); credit: Rahimafrooz Energy Services Limited)

Despite the economic slowdown worldwide, one area of business investment that continues to post strong growth, year in and year out, is mission-critical applications, such as data centres and hospitals – which inevitably increases the infrastructure’s size.

As energy prices continue to rise, harnessing power-related costs has never been more essential. Now is the time for companies to take a closer look at those tools specifically engineered to ensure such facilities maximize their power needs.

Think about the typical everyday data consumption of businesses and people: Nowadays, everyone expects their Netflix to start streaming instantly, their Amazon buy to go smoothly, real-time education software, education courses, video chats with Grandpa, and regular email with attachments. This data needs to be created, handled, and kept.

The modern user wants their information now, but they don’t necessarily comprehend or appreciate the massive infrastructure required to keep it all or send it around the world.

Any supporting power infrastructure must have the backup required to minimize damage. An effective uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system and backup generator are the foundation of the system.

A device called a UPS, sometimes known as “battery backup“, allows data centres to continue operating while switching to a generator or another dependable power source.

Table of Contents:

  1. Typical Commercial Power Supply Design
  2. Medium Voltage UPS Technology
  3. Power Demand and Distribution in Today’s High Power Applications
  4. Limits of LV Distribution in High Power Applications
  5. Integration of UPS Systems in the MV Distribution
  6. Redundancy Concepts and Isolated Parallel System (IP-System)
  7. Floor Space and Losses are Key Factors For Large Systems
  8. Examples:
    1. Medium Voltage UPS In Airport Field Lighting
    2. Power Supply of a 35 MW Semiconductor Factory
    3. Redundant Medium Voltage UPS at a High Rise Data Centre
  9. Conclusion and What’s Next

1. Typical Commercial Design of Power Supply

Typical commercial design of facility power supply compromises a utility service (commonly medium voltage), pad-mounted or distribution step-down transformer with LV underground secondary feeder, main switchboard with service-main breaker and optional backup diesel engine generator and transfer devices.

Some facilities optionally might have a UPS system to carry critical loads through switching transfers.

Figure 1 – Typical commercial design of a facility power system

Typical commercial design of a facility power system
Figure 1 – Typical commercial design of a facility power system

Standard power supply systems are not the subject of this technical article. EEP covered these topics a dozen times in the past. Here you can find related information (articles, guides).

Go back to the Contents Table ↑


2. Medium Voltage UPS Technology

The trend in the internet and IT industry toward big data centres necessitates an increase in the need for high dependability electricity at single locations. Large, crucial industrial processes are becoming more and more dependent on a degree of power quality that is not available from the public grid.

Because a low voltage distribution with its high current levels is technically and financially impractical, the electrical power distribution within those installations is carried out using medium voltage technology.

Figure 2 outlines how large systems allow transformer consolidation and lower costs due to the different configuration.

Figure 2 – Comparison of power supply designs

Comparison of power supply designs
Figure 2 – Comparison of power supply designs

Similar to the medium voltage UPS, a centralized high power uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is a practical technological option, especially if it is built with an integrated diesel rotary UPS (DRUPS).

Due to the fewer required transformers, medium voltage UPS technology decreases space requirements and distribution losses downstream of the UPS. Using a high grade UPS system keeps short circuit currents to a tolerable level while maintaining a high level of power distribution dependability.

By paralleling two or more high power UPS or DRUPS systems on a single common output bus in a N+x configuration, the MV distribution eliminates the need for a sizable number of low voltage switching devices to provide redundancy.

The grid-to-load interface of a line interactive UPS can be switched from low voltage to medium voltage components using its modular design, but the UPS’s core components and storage remain the same. This maintains the positive and comfortable experience with the operation and upkeep of a trustworthy LV UPS.

Aspects of space and electrical loss are described, along with designs that have been implemented in the actual world for a data center, an airport, and a semiconductor factory.

Suggested Video – Largest Rotary UPS System in the Southern Hemisphere: 20MVA

Go back to the Contents Table ↑


3. Power Demand & Distribution in Today’s High Power Applications

Over the past ten years, the enormously expanding E-commerce industry has increased the amount of physical space and electrical power needed to run data centres. Then, when the power density in kilowatts per m2 increases, consequently, cooling power becomes a pressing concern. Customers and operators of those data centres demand an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to provide a safe and dependable power supply.

Because of the possibility of thermal runaway, UPS frequently provides all required electrical power. One to three megawatts were needed for a typical data center in the early 90s, but currently, ten to fifty megawatts per installation are quite common.

Additionally, businesses in the chemical, food, and semiconductor industries need a safe power supply more frequently because they cannot accept significant production losses brought on by mains interruptions.

The need for a secure power supply of up to 40 MVA has increased as single locations have gotten bigger. Additionally, the manufacturing area is frequently spread out, necessitating the distribution of a large amount of electrical power across the space.

Long distances in the power distribution also have to be overcome in applications like airport runway lighting system.

Figure 3 – Comparison of electricity consumption among countries and datacenters

Comparison of electricity consumption among countries and datacenters
Figure 3 – Comparison of electricity consumption among countries and datacenters

Go back to the Contents Table ↑


4. Limits of LV Distribution in High Power Applications

What would be the solution?

At low voltage system levels of 400 or 480 volts, the common bus quickly reaches its maximum capacity of about 5 MVA. The capacity of busbars and breakers, which is around 6000 A on one side, and the switchboards, which normally have a short circuit capability of 100 kA on the other, are what limit the power to 5 MVA.

Higher ratings for both will cause the switchgear’s costs and dimensions to soar, and the market’s supply of the parts will be severely constrained.

Membership Upgrade Required

This content is not available in your premium membership plan. Please upgrade your plan in order to access this content. You can choose an annually based Basic, Pro, or Enterprise membership plan. Subscribe and enjoy studying specialized technical articles, online video courses, electrical engineering guides, and papers.

With EEP’s premium membership, you get additional essence that enhances your knowledge and experience in low- medium- and high-voltage engineering fields.

Limited Time Gift! – Save 10% on Pro Membership Plan with code 110VDC

Upgrade

Already a member? Log in here

Premium Membership

Get access to premium HV/MV/LV technical articles, electrical engineering guides, research studies and much more! It helps you to shape up your technical skills in your everyday life as an electrical engineer.
More Information
Edvard Csanyi - Author at EEP-Electrical Engineering Portal

Edvard Csanyi

Hi, I'm an electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal. I worked twelve years at Schneider Electric in the position of technical support for low- and medium-voltage projects and the design of busbar trunking systems.

I'm highly specialized in the design of LV/MV switchgear and low-voltage, high-power busbar trunking (<6300A) in substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. I'm also a professional in AutoCAD programming.

Profile: Edvard Csanyi

Leave a Comment

Tell us what you're thinking. We care about your opinion! Please keep in mind that comments are moderated and rel="nofollow" is in use. So, please do not use a spammy keyword or a domain as your name, or it will be deleted. Let's have a professional and meaningful conversation instead. Thanks for dropping by!

90  ⁄  9  =  

Learn How to Design Power Systems

Learn to design LV/MV/HV power systems through professional video courses. Lifetime access. Enjoy learning!

EEP Hand-Crafted Video Courses

Check more than a hundred hand-crafted video courses and learn from experienced engineers. Lifetime access included.
Experience matters. Premium membership gives you an opportunity to study specialized technical articles, online video courses, electrical engineering guides, and papers written by experienced electrical engineers.